While it will take some time to see a change, do keep in mind that ritalin is a stimulant and does not need the time to build up in the system as Strattera, Wellbutrin, etc. Perhaps keeping a log of the date, doses, behavior, and side effects would be beneficial. If no improvement is seen at first, adjustments in the dose may need to be made. If still no improvement is seen, perhaps a different med should be tried.
Good luck and keep us posted!
My dd just started Ritalin. Is this med supposed to start working right away or does it take a few days? If it really hasn't worked at all yet, does that mean it probably won't?Hi GlenW,
Ooh, that was good. I mean it. I stand corrected. Sorry! You are right.
How ADD of me. You know your ADD when: you blurt without thinking...
Thanks for the insight. I don't usually concern myself with such issues, but I will now.
I don't usually appologize either, but I will this time.
Everyone, I WAS THOUGHTLESS in my earlier statements. Please strike them from your concerns, and please forgive me. I retract my comment.
Thanks.
Contritely, remorsefully, and sincerely yours,
David
I didn't catch that when I was reading, Glen. Glad you did! It's amazing someone would suggest playing around with ADHD medication. Very sad.I have never heard that ritalin was a wait and see thing. And in my personal experience, it isn't. My son has been on every med under the sun for ADHD, and every stimulant showed immediate results. Strattera is different. That takes up to six weeks. Stimulants take about 20 or 30 minutes to start "working," and they wear off the same day. We were on a four year long stimulant trial and error. In my opinion, if Ritalin isn't "working," you should first ask yourself if you are expecting behavior changes or changes in focusing and activity level. It's it's a behavior problem (explosive tantrums, for example), a stimulant can make that worse! By the way, there are a multitude of stimulants to try. Four years and 13 med changes......well, I can tell you a little bit about it. We are on an alterternate route (due to four years of side effects), but to return to your original question, I believe you should see changes with stimulants very quickly. Dosage, however, might be something else to consider. Good luck.
Good luck at the doctor's. Hey, try some yourself. I've always wondered what my meds would do to a normal. Problem is, I can't selfmx anymore, cuz my mx's are about right on, and I'm afraid to change. It took 49 years to dial me in... Wierd thing, it was. At first I resisted meds, now I'd kill to stay on them. Not really, but I sneak some into a stash every now and then so if they do try to take it away, at least I'll coast for a while until I figure out what to do.[QUOTE=Davidornado]Good luck at the doctor's. Hey, try some yourself. I've always wondered what my meds would do to a normal. Problem is, I can't selfmx anymore, cuz my mx's are about right on, and I'm afraid to change. It took 49 years to dial me in... Wierd thing, it was. At first I resisted meds, now I'd kill to stay on them. Not really, but I sneak some into a stash every now and then so if they do try to take it away, at least I'll coast for a while until I figure out what to do. [/QUOTE]
Normally I'd chastise you in private - but I'd like to make this out to all those who recommend this.
Shame on you Davidornado!
Recommending meds to those who don't need it is a very careless dangerous thing!
You may find the experimentation of medication both illegal and legal as acceptable = but these meds are restricted for a very good reason.
It's tantamount to you handing a needle and insulin to someone and saying "try it out - I'd like to see what it does to a non-diabetic"
The reason I'm holding you out here to this is that I'm very upset with the carefree way people are experimenting with OUR meds. It's time I stand up and say NO - this undercuts our credibility and makes us all look like junkies and fools.
PLEASE people - stop playing with these meds. Don't hand meds to someone who thinks they have ADD and don't share them with the people who don't have it at all. Kids in high school are dying because of abusing Ritalin and it makes me sick.
Ok - I'm done. Please stop.
Thank you! I did place a call into the doctor's office and of course she is out until wednesday...go figure! Hopefully we can get the dosage and med straightened out! Thanks again for everyone's help! I appreciate it!Davidornado -
No worries - All forgiven.
Sorry it took a bit to get back here - got too much on the stove right now KWIM?
I'm just getting to notice the kind of Laissez Faire attitude about the meds we take and needed to point out that we are ALL under the microscope these days.
What someone wants to do to themselves at home is cool. To each their poison and all that. But here - we have to be diligent and mind the way we treat our meds. The governments of north america would love to make us live with the ADHD without benefits of ritalin and adderal. It's epidemic the abuse and we all have to take care.
Don't worry - I've screwed up so often I rarely throw the first stone. Just be careful out there people. I'm rooting for us all.
Although we see this (actually david EVERYTHING LOL) differently, I respect you.
I see the ADHD as suffering. I like many wished to be one of the many - and was gyped out of a normal existence. That for me is the one indignity.
[QUOTE=GlenW]
Davidornado -
No worries - All forgiven.
Sorry it took a bit to get back here - got too much on the stove right now KWIM?
I'm just getting to notice the kind of Laissez Faire attitude about the meds we take and needed to point out that we are ALL under the microscope these days.
What someone wants to do to themselves at home is cool. To each their poison and all that. But here - we have to be diligent and mind the way we treat our meds. The governments of north america would love to make us live with the ADHD without benefits of ritalin and adderal. It's epidemic the abuse and we all have to take care.
Don't worry - I've screwed up so often I rarely throw the first stone. Just be careful out there people. I'm rooting for us all.
[/QUOTE]
K. Thx.
Ever the investigator, I'll always consider experimental until proven guilty...
The one thing we can hope for is that the suffering our generation has experienced will point the way for properly mitigating these conditions by AD/HDrs and their mendicants, and hopefully the regulators, in the future...
And might I qualify suffering... I do not suffer from ADHD, it is what has made me who I am today (although God had everything to do with it), I suffer from the abuse and thoughtlessness that those who do not understand it HEAP on us...
...for I suffer not just for myself, but for those who are LIKE MINDED...
Ritalin works first time, every time, fast. You may not see the difference, but he may be feeling the difference, and not ready to share. If not, dose may be too low. Max dose is 60 mg / day, which can be too low for some wildly ADHDers. I'm on 60 mg / day plus Provigil 2x per day, which seems fine to me and others around me. It may take several attempts or experiments to determine the correct dosage and / or product at first. I was / am a guinea pig, having been on 18 different med regimes until they've got it about right now, I think. Rate also depends on body mass. I'm big, too.
Good luck, and good hunting,
It took about 2 days until people could see the effect Ritalin had on me.
Just an update...the doctor's office called last thursday and the doctor wants to see my dd tomorrow at 11:10.....will know more tomorrow. She is going to talk with me about my concerns of her having anxiety and then she is going to be switching meds!!